Abalone Art
Hello CDN:
I remember seeing years ago in a book, or on the internet some very special art made from abalone shells. Old square rigger ship designs had been cut into the back of red abalones, so that the lines of the ships were in mother of pearl and the background was red. Beautiful. As my yard is littered with the remnants of freediving, I would like to try my hand at making such a work. Do you know where I can view these works or how they were made? How is the red made so red, and what is the best way to remove growth from the shells and bring out that deep color. Can this work be facilitated with a Dremel?
Thank You,
Melville Behrendt
mhb3@hotmail.com

Mel:
I know you can clean up abalone shells very nicely by melting paraffin (artificial wax) and painting the inside of the shell to protect it. Soak the shells in a diluted solution of household chlorine bleach (1 part chlorine to 4 parts water or stronger if you wish). Allow it to bubble and fizz in a well ventilated area. Check on the shell periodically until the desired effect is reached. Some shells will do poorly, even crumbling. It depends on the condition of the shell from worms and other boring animals. Then dip the shells in very hot water (not boiling!) to remove the wax. Baby, mineral, or silicone oil rubbed over the shells brings out the luster.

The shells you saw are probably cut or ground down to create the intricate pattern. If you cut, polish or grind the shells in any way be aware that the dust is highly toxic! A respirator (not just a dust mask) is a must!

Dale Sheckler
Editor/Publisher

When is Visibility Best?
Hello there:
Okay, how about some words about what are the best (and worst) surf conditions for diving? I go snorkeling and free diving in Laguna Beach just about every other day. Here’s my experience: Early in the morning, visibility is usually better than in the afternoon. However, I have seen just the opposite when high tide is in the morning. On the other hand, underwater rock formations that are close to the surface do seem to have better visibility during high tides; they are not as close to the surface near the crashing waves (which also stirs up stuff, reducing visibility). High tide usually yields the poorest visibility (surf pounding the shore stirs up the sand). Low tide usually the best.

Any other observations on full moons, tides, surge, your astrological sign and how that all relates to visibility?

Muchas gracias,
Steve Benjamin
Laguna Beach

Steve:
Morning is best for clearer waters because the seas are generally calmer. I find that high tide is best for cleaner water, but that is largely from a scuba diver’s point of view and it also depends on the specific location.

Dale Sheckler
Editor

Laguna Whale Encounter Changes Life
Dear Dale,
I am responding to a letter I read in the July edition of your magazine which was composed by the good people of Laguna Sea Sports.

On December 30th I encountered a mature gray whale while diving underwater at Shaw’s Cove in Laguna Beach at 8:23 a.m. at a depth of 26 feet in 57 degree water.

The encounter occurred near the very end of the reef which hooks slightly eastward and drops to sand at 47 feet. Down 50 odd feet west from the end of reef are a series of canals or narrow canyons. I had been out on the sand to 50 foot deep, practicing compass headings with a friend. The whale, a 30-foot adult with barnacles, was probably following the natural gentle long shore current from Crescent Bay to Shaw’s cove as it migrated south to Baja.

I had come in from the sand and had meandered down through the channels and up upon the reef system where I purposely positioned myself to rest at a depth of 17 feet. I then measured visibility at 41 feet. As I lay on the reef I peered out into the open water. Coming up the shoot I first thought I saw a 7-foot gray sea bass. I thought, “Wow, a giant sea bass... that’s odd here, really odd!” But my initial observation was incorrect. What I had seen was a nose... the nose of a gray whale.

At a distance of 15 feet away, I lay nearly motionless as the huge animal gave me an eye-piercing look over. He swam by tail only with both pectoral fins tightly tucked at his side. His mouth measured between five to seven feet from tip to eye. I had no fear but felt an innate intelligence in his presence. He was heavily barnacled and probably cast 30 tons over his bent, scarred blue frame. In ten seconds he was past me... I sketched madly on my underwater slate and came out into the canal to measure his depth and get an accurate compass heading. Ten seconds changed my life.

Since this encounter my life has changed, much like the close encounter Richard Dreyfuss had in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I did not shovel dirt into my kitchen window, but I did research extensively and constructed a 12-inch model of the whale from clay using tiny barnacles to accent the figure. While I did not play or make shapes in mashed potatoes, I did visit an art store and have painted a very nice water color likeness of the encounter on canvas. I have quit my job, resigned as head wrestling coach at a desert high school, and have moved to the ocean, to teach in Long Beach and live by the sea... a life’s dream come true.

Why me? Why did I have the splendid honor to encounter one of God’s greatest creatures? First, gray whales feed in the sand, rolling on their right side to suck in benthic amphipods. Second, by being at the end of the reef I was in the natural long shore current that flows form Crescent Bay, a sandy area next to Shaw’s Cove. Third, the fish life at the end of reef is commonly features literally thousands of fish hanging into the current where they search out the minute daphnia. The whale, being a good pilot, was using the current and undoubtedly the sand and waters to feed on as he captained his ship the 5,000 miles from Alaska to Mexico. Was the whale a male? Probably so, based on size.

My encounter was shared with the great people at Laguna Sea Sports. I would advise that you stop and hear the rest of a lot of stories of whales and people at Shaw’s Cove.

Sincerely,
Roger “SQBA GY” Hanson

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